Apparatus for vinegar-making.



E. KLEIN'.

APPARATUS FOR VINEGAR MAKING.

APPLICATIN FILED 1AN.|2| |916. l ,272, 277. Patented July 9,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

l l nvm/Tof? @.Wg MM E. KLEIN.

APPARATUS FOR VINEGAR MAKING.

APPL|CAT|0N FILED 1AN12| 1916.

1 ,272,2'77. Patented July 9, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.v

,all

E. KLEIN.

APPARATUS FOR VINEGAR MAKING. APPLlcATloN man 1AN.12. 191s.

l ,272,27'7. Patented July 9, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W7 5mi? E. KLEIN.

APPARATUS FOR VINEGVAR MAKING. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 12.A IgIIe.

Patented July 9, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESS .En srarnfs ERWIN KLEIN, or PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOB, VINEGrAR-llllfAJKINGr.

To all lwhom t may concern: Be it known that I, ERwIN KLEIN, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Peekskill, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented lcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Vinegar-Making, of which the followin is a specification, reference be- 1ng`had to t e accompanying drawings.

his invention relates toimprovements in vinegar-making apparatus and particularly to improvements in vinegar-making apparatus of the Schutzenbach type, which apparatus may be briefly described as follows: A vat (hereinafter referred to/as the generator or vinegar generator) is filled with wood shavings or like material offering an extensive surface. The lowei` part of this vat is formed with air-holes through which air flows into the vat or enerator. A iuid mixture (hereinafter esignated the mix or wash) capable of acetic fermentationkis admitte'd to the vat at the top thereof and change results inthe production of heat. A

difference of temperature is thus created between the inside of the generator andthe outside atmosphere and a draft is pro-A duced whereby there is established an inwardly and upwardly flowing current of fresh air which flows over and comes in contact with the large surface of the mix or wash. By the oxidation of the mix, the air is gradually deprived of much of its oxygen and is finally discharged through the top of the vat or generator as spent air. One object of this invention is to provide in an apparatus of the Schutzenbach type, means for cooling the mix below a predetermined maximum temperature. Another object of this invention is to provide a vinegar-making apparatus of the Schutzenbach type with means for cooling below a predetermined maximum temperature the air supplied to the generator. A third object is to provide in a vinegar-making apparatus of the Schutzenbach type mechanism for throwing such cooling means into and out of operation. A further object of this invention is the provision of means for maintaining the interior of the vinegar-generator independent of the temperature of the exter- Speciiication of Letters Patent.

shavings change alcohol forming an Patented July e, 1ers.

Application led `Tanuary 12, 1916. Serial No. 71,693.

nal atmosphere, such as means for keeping theroof ofthe generator wetted .during the operation thereof and an insulating covering for the outer walls. A fth obj ect is to provide the generator with an acid-proof lining. A sixth obj ect is toprovide the vinegar-generator with false bottoms that divide the same into a vertical series of intercommunieating compartments and are formed of spaced, strips and with conduits that are independent of 'each other and conduct fresh air from the outside to eachof the com artments separately. A seventh object o this invention is to provide the walls of the vine-` gar-generator. 4with openings for the admission of air to the compartments andwith means for controlling the flow of air into the same through such openings. An eighth object is to provide a false bottom that consists of spaced stri s having reduced lower faces'. ninth obJectis to provide a vinegar-generator with a flue having mix-controlled means for generating a draft. A tenth object is to provide a number of siphons of small capacity for discharging the mix into the generator. An eleventh obj ect of this inventlon is to provide means for recording the number of times each mix-containing receptacle is emptied by its Siphon within a given period. A twelfth object of lthis invent-ionJis to provide the siphons with pyramidal-shaped bases having curved `surfaces to facilitate the distribution of the mix' discharged thereon. A thirteenth .object of this invention is the provision of means for cleansing, sterilizing and moistening the air supplied to the vinegar-generator. A fourteenth object of this invention consists in the provision of a vinegar-generator divided into intercommunicatng compartments, one above the other, with means for supplying the mix to the topmost thereof and with conduits for separately furnishing air from theJ outside. to cachY of the compartments, whereby the mix in flowing downwardly is caused to be acted upon by a supply of fresh air in each compartment and the vapors carried by the upflowing spent air are condensedby the inflowing cooled mix.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of this invention and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle, Fig. l is an elevation, partly in section and somewhat diagrammatie in character, of a vinegar-making plant embodyin this invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation, part y in section,`of

the generator; Fig. 3 is a plan of the same; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 4 4, 5 5 and 6 6, respectively, of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a plan of one of the siphons with the cap removed; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7; Figs. 9 and 10 are sec- 'tions on the lines 9 9 and 10 10, respectively, of Fig. 8; Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate in perspective two shapes of the wooden bars or rails forming the false bottoms of the compartments; Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate the different forms of recorders for recording the quantity of mix (or wash) used; and Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate different forms of the thermo-regulator.

The mix (or wash) is forced through the pipe a which discharges into the tank b from which the mix is drawn and forced by 'the pump c through the pipes d, e, f, g. The pipe Z extends or projects above the pipe e, with which it communicates, and is connected with the pipe d', .so that any excess, surplus or overflow of the mix may be conducted by the pipe d', back to the tank Z). The pipe g has, in the form illustrated, three outlets k each of which is controlled by a valve i. The mix (or wash) is, whenever necessary, cooled to a certain predetermined temperature in the following manner: The pipe a is surrounded by a water-jacket 7' through which flows water that is forced into the pipe and lcd therefrom to the water-jacket j by the water-pipes m, m'. The water is led from the water-jaclet by the water-pipes n, n' the pipe n discharges into the sewer (not shown). A refrigerating engine 0 forces a refrigerating` fluid through the coil p that isniounted in the tank b and serves to chill the mix (or wash) to any desired predetermined temperatlre before the mix is forced by the rotary pump c to the generator A.

Air is led through the pipe (j into a tank 1" which is filled with a suitable liquid, such as dilute acetic acid or dilute sulfuric acid, below the level of which acidified liquid the pipe g extends. The air is thus cleansed,sterihzed and moistened. From the tank r, the air is drawn through a pipe s by au air-compressor (shown diagrammatically at t) which forces the air through the pipe u that passes through the water-jacket o and brine-cooler fw. The water-jacket fu is fed by water that is led through the'pipes k, .f1/f; and water flows froml the water-jacket lv through the 4pipe 1?/ to the vertical pipe n' and through the latter to the sewer. The brine-cooler w is fed byv a salt solution that is forced through it by the refrigerating engine 0 the circulation of the brine occurs through the pipes w', w". A damper u' permits the flow of air through the air-pipe u to be controlled.

Beneath each outlet L, there is arranged an intermediate tank 2 (Figs. 7 to 10) which is automatically emptied by a Siphon 3. The mix Hows from the annular space 2' through the holes 2" in the cap 2* and then upwardly through the annular passage 2, which forms one of the shorter legs of the Siphon. From the passage 2X, the mix Hows into the vertical passages 3X. The latter pas-` sages form the longer leg of the Siphon. The central passage 4 is filled by mix flowing through the horizontal passages and forms the other shorter leg of the Siphon. The mix fiows from the central passage 4 into the vertical passages 3X. The mix, flowing from these passages 3X, drops upon the curved surfaces 5' of the pyramidal-shaped base 5, which supports the intermediate tank 2. T hese curved surfaces 5' serve to distribute the wash or mix over the perforated distributing topv or' cover 6. The mix flows through the holes 7 therein down into the upper compartment 8 which, like the compartments 8', 8", below it, is filled With shavings 9, of wood or the like. The floorbeams 10 support the false bottoms which are made of the spaced wooden bars or strips 11 having the shape shown in Fig. 11; that is, these strips of wood are rounded near the bottom so that the lower face 11' is devoid of corners to which drops of liquid might adhere. An alternative wedge-shaped form of stri is shown at 12 in Fig. 12 and may be use( instead of the form shown yat 11.

The air-pipe u discharges vinto a vertical air-pi e u" from which lead the horizontally-disposed air-pipes 13, 13', 13" controlled by the valves u". The front and back walls A of the generator A are formed with openings 14, 14', 14", opposite the airpipes 13, 13', 13", respectively, and into these openings 14, 14', 14", project lthe ends of the spaced Wooden bars 11 that form the false bottoms or floors of the compartments 8, 8', 8". The inside walls of the air-conduits 13, 13', 13" (that is, the walls thereof opposed to the openings 14, 1 4', 14", respectively) are formed with apertures 13X the degreeof opening of which is controlled by slides 15, 15', 15", respectively, which regulate the flow of the air from the pipes 13, 13', 13", through the openings 13 into the spaces 11 between the Vfloor strips 11 and, therefore, into the several compartments of the generator through these spaces 11". The position of each of the slides l15` 15', 15", is separately controlled and, for this purpose, there lis provided for each slide a shaft 16 upon which are mounted the gears 17, each of which engages a rack 18 `hat is fastened t0 the Slide. By turning one of the shafts 16, there will be moved thatslide that carries t-he racks 18 in'mesh with the gears 17 fast upon the actuated shaft 16. The fresh air that flows into the air-conduits 13" escapes therefrom through the apertures 13", passes into the spaces 11x between the bars,

rails or strips of wood 11 that form the false bottoms of the lowermost compartment 8 and then flows upwardly therethrough, commg 1n contact with the mix and oxidizing the same. Thus, absolutely `fresh airis intermingled with the mix just before the latter flows into the space 13" at the bottom of the generator A and, in this way, vit is insuredthat the oxidation of the mix and its resulting conversion into vinegar shall be as perfect or complete as practicable. The

. air, in flowing through the lowermost compartment 8, becomes spent and, on leavwardly through the intermediate compartmentv 8. In its passage through this middle Compartment 8, the mixture of fresh and spent air becomes more and more exhausted of its oxygen; and, upon issuing from the intermediate compartment 8, the air current meets the fresh air flowing from the airconduit 13 through the apertures 13x therein. This mixture of spent and fresh air flows upwardly through the topmost -compartment 8 and meets therein the inlowing mix. The temperature of the latter is low,` 1n fact, so low as to condense the vapors that are carried by the air current; and, by the condensation of these vapors, the loss due to evaporation is greatly reduced. As the mix progresses downwardly, it,becomes less and less cool and soon is ralsedto a temperature at which an oxidizing reaction takes place. From the compartment 8, the .air flows through the holes 7 in the perforated distributing top or cover 6 and thence flows upwardly through the chimney 18 past the damper 19 therein. In order to create a draft in the flue or chimney 18, a fan 20 of acid-resisting material is rotatably mounted therein and is driven by a cone-pulley 22 belt-connected with another cone-pulley 23 mounted upon a shaft 24 that is driven by a propeller 25 actuated by the flow of the mix through the pipe f. The roof A of the generator A is kept coolA by an annular sprinkler 26 fed by water led through a pipe 27 that is connected with the pipe m. The water llows from the sprinkler over the roof A" of vthe generator A and into the gutters 28 that discharge into-the leader 29. In order to keep the generator compartments 8, 8, 8, as free from atmospheric temperature infiuences as possible, the voutside of thewalls Ax of these con'lpartments consists of a heat-insulating covering A. The .inner side of the walls Ax are -furthermore hned w1th an acid-proof material, which may be made of a fibrous substance combned`with tar, asphalt and paraffinproducts; but it is to be understood that any suitable acid-resisting lining may be used in carrying out this invention. Between the acid-proof lining 30 and the heat-insulating covering A, there are interposed boards 21.

In order to record the amount of mix that passes in a given time interval through the siphn 3 shown in section in Fig. 8, a recording mechanism may be used; and

- three different forms of recording mechanisms for this purpose are illustrated in the drawings (Figs. 13 to 15).. In Fig. 13, one arm 31 of a spring-controlled bell-crank -lever 31 projectsinto the path of flow of the mix while the other arm 31 of this lever 31 carries` a marker 32. When no flow is -taking place, the marker 32 is held against the recording disk 33 by a spring 34; but,

`when a flow of the mix is taking place, the

marker 32` will be withdrawn from the face of this disk 33, which is driven by clockwork.33. In Fig. 14, an electric circuit is completed between the insulated electric contacts 35, 35, by the mix when the same reaches the level of the electric contact 35 mounted in but insulated from the Wall of the intermediate tank .2;Y and the current iowing through this' circuit energizes the magnets 36, which thereupon attract the armature 31 forming one `arm of the bell` crank lever 31'; and, when this armature31 is attracted, the marker 32 is withdrawn as before, from the face of the recording disk 33. In Fig. l5, there is shown afloat 37 buoyed up bythe mix in the intermediate 'tank 2 and connected by a cord 38 with a rotatably-mounted disk 39 to which is connected a weight 43. The cord 38 passes over a pair of pulleys 41, 42, and the disk 39 end of which is controlled by a spring 40 and the other end or toe of which is arranged to engage the teeth 44 of a ratchetwheel. 44 on the same shaft with which is mounted a pinion 45 that drives the toothed wheels of the counter 46. A stop 40 limits the upward throw of the longer arm of the pawl 40 under the action of the lspring 40". As the level of the mix rises in the intermediate tank 2, lthe disk 39 is turned clockwise'by the pull of the weight 43 hung from the disk 39 bythe cord 43 and the toe of the pawl 40 engages the ratchet teeth 44 and" turns the ratchet Wheel 44 and the pinion 45. When the mix is discharged from the intermediate tank 2 by the siphon 3, the float 37 falls and turns the disk 39 counterclockwise and winds up thereon the cord 43 carrying the weight 43. During this backward movement of the disk 39, the vtoe of the pawl 40 rides over the ratchet 43 without engaging the teeth 43 of the same; and a guard-pawl 47 prevents any movement of the ratchet 43 during the retrograde movement of the disk 39. A spring 48 holds the pawl 47 against the stop 47.

In order to control with great nicety the carries a `pivotally mounted pawl '40 one temperature of the mix in the storage tank there may be provided a thermo-regulator 49, the temperature-controlled element 52 of temperature of the air flowing through the pipe u may be regulated with great accuracy. In Figs. 16 vand 17, there are illustrated two forms of therino-regulator capable of use in carrying out this invention. In the form shown in Fig. 16, the bulb 52 contains mercury 53 on top of which rests a liquid 51 of low boiling point; that is, the boiling point of this liquid 51 is practically the maximum temperature permissible in the tank so that, when that temperature is reached therein, the liquid 5l will boil and its vapor will increase the pressure in the bulb to such a degree that the mercury will be forced out of the bulb 52 and through the conduit 55. In the pipe 0', leading from the refrigerating machine 0 to the coil 7), there is mounted a slide-valve 56 formed with an opening 57 and having an upwardly-projecting arm 58 and a downwardly-extending leg or post 59 around which there is coiled a spring 60 that normally forces the slide-valve 56 upwardly so that its'opening 57 is thrown out of register with the inlet end o of the pipe o from the refrigerating machine; but, when the liquid 54 boils and the mercury 53 is thereby forced through the conduit 55 and against the upper end of the arm 58, the pressure of the mercury 53 forces the slidevalve 56 downwardly, until the opening 57 formed therein registers with the inlet end o of the pipe 0, whereupon the refrigerating fluid is free to flow therethrough from the refrigerating machine 0. form of thermo-regulator is used to control the temperature of the air flowing through the air-conduit u, the bulb 52 is mounted in the latter and the slide-valve 56 controls the flow of the refrigerating fluid through the pipe w. i

In the form of thermo-regulator shown in Fig. 17, the thermometer 61 is mounted in the tank Z) and the mercury 53 serves to complete the electrical circuit between the contact-plates 62, 63, when the temperature .in the tank b has risen to the permissible maximum. The electrical circuit having been completed, current willflow therethrough from the dynamo 64 and will drive the motor 65 which will, in turn, propel the centrifugal pump 66. This pump 66 will then draw the refrigerating fluid from the machine 0 through the pipe o and will force that fluid through the coil p. Or the dy- When this is the case where the generator is housedin avbuilding and the air is, after passing through the generator, discharged within the building only to be fed to the generator vagain without having its oxygen fully replenished by mixing with the outer atmosphere. The air is carefully treated and thereby prepared for the reaction that takes place in the generator; thus, it is cleansed, sterilized and Inoistened` by being sucked throughA acidulated water in the tank r or filtered through cotton or the like andis brought to exactly the proper temperature b v coolers c, fw; a thermo-regulator 50 may with advantage be used in effecting this purpose. Moreover, if the temperature of the outside air be already too low, heaters may be substituted for the coolers Q1, w, of course. The mix is likewise brought to the proper temperature by means of the cooler j and coil p. The generator is divided by horizontally--disposed false-bottoms into sections or compartments 8, 8', 8, one above the otherl in a vertical series through which the mix is allowed to flow from the top `to the bottom of the generator. The topmost compartment 8 is used principally for the condensationof the vapors carried by the air-current that flows upwardly and passes out through a flue 18, in which an upward draft is maintained by a fan 20 driven by the inowing mix.

It is furthermore to be noted that, while fresh air is led to each compartment separately and in quantities controlled by slides 15, 15, 15` that are moved independently of one another, all the air introduced into the generator eventually flows through the topmost section where condensation of the vapors carried by the air is effected. The mix which flows into the lowermost compartment and has already been at least in part oxidized meets there and is acted upon by the absolutely fresh air supplied to that compartment, whereby the mix is fully oxidized and transformed into vinegar, when it is drawn off through the outlet spigot 51. Not only is separate control effected, as has been hereinbefore explained, of the quantity of the fresh air admitted to the several compartments but control is also effected by the valves z' of the volume of mix admitted to the generator and a record of the quantity `and the distribution of the mix thereover is made still more even by the use of surfaces 5 of the pyramidal-shaped bases 5 that support the siphons 3. rlhe downward flow of' the mix through the generator is facilitated by'rounding off the lower edges of the strips 1l that make up the false-bottoms that separate the compartments and of the floor-beams 10 that support these false-bottoms. To make the reactions that take place within the generatorstill more independent of temperature conditions external thereto, and to make more complete the condensation of the vapors carried upwardly by the current of practically spent air, the roof A "of the generator A is kept wetted by water flowing over the roof, while the generator is in operation; and the walls A of the latter are covered with a heat-insulating material A. It may be further pointed out that, by using several siphons 3 of small capacity, there is eliminated the dangerof improper starting, which danger is present when the siphon is one of large diameter. i

As will be evident to all skilled in this art, changes lmay be made; without departing from the spirit of this invention; thus', the

air ma be passed through a filter ofcotton,

in addition to the tank 1' of acidulated water and a nozzle discharging steaminto the flue 18 may be used instead of or in additio'n to the mix-controlled fan 2O for creating a draft. Other changes will readily suggest themselves and all such changes are deemed by me to be covered by the claims which follow hereinafter.

p l claim:l

l. A vinegar-making apparatus of the Schutzenbach type including a vinegar generator; means for introducing the mix thereinto, an air-conduit; mechanism for cooling the air iowing therethrough; autbmatically-operating means for throwing said mechanism into and out of operation to maintain the temperature of the air below a predetermined maximum and means for leading the air from said mechanism to said generator.

2. A vinegar-making apparatus of the Schutzenbach type including a conduit for the mix; mechanism for cooling the mix flowing through said conduit; automaticallyoperating means for throwingsaid mechanism into and out of operation to maintain the temperature ofthe mix below a predetermined maximum, 'a vinegar generator;

means for leading the mix from said mechanism to said generator; and means for introducing air thereinto.

3. A vinegar making apparatus of the i Schutzenbach type including a vinegar generator; a conduit for leading fresh air to said generator; means for precooling the fresh air flowing through said conduit prior to its admission to said generator; and means for automatically controlling the temperature of the fresh air flowing through said conduit.

4. A vinegar-making apparatus of the Schutzenbach type including a vinegar-generator; means for artificially cooling the same during the operation thereof7 means for introducing the mix into said generator near the top thereof; and means forintroducing the air into said generator near the bottom thereof.

5. A vinegar-making apparatus including avinegar-generator; false bottoms within said generator and dividing the same into a vertical series of intercominunicating conipartnients; said false bottoms being formed of spaced strips having reduced lower faces; and means for causing an ascending current of fresh air to flow through the spaces between the strips of which said false bottoms are formed.- 'Y

6. A vinegar-making apparatus including a vinegar-generator having openings in its exterior walls; false bottoms formed of spaced strips having reduced lower faces, the spaces between said strips communicating with said openings and said false bottoms being arranged one above the other and dividing the generator into a vertical series of intercommunicating compartments; airconduits from which flows, through said openingsand air-passages, air from the outside; and means for causing an ascending current ofy fresh air to flow through the spaces between the strips of which said falsebottonis are formed.-

7. A vinegar-making apparatus including avinegar-generator having openings in its exterior walls; false bottoms formed of spaced strips having reduced lower faces, the spaces between said strips communicating with said openings and said false bottoms bein arranged one above the'other and dividing the generator into a vertical series of intercommunicatingcompartments;

- air-conduits from which flows, through said openings air-passages, airfrom the outside; and mechanism for controlling' the flow of air from said air-conduits through said openings; and means for'causing an ascending current of fresh air to flow through the spaces between the strips of which said false bottoms are forme 8. A vinegar-making apparatus of the Schutzenbach type including a vinegar-generator; vmeans for introducing air thereiis into; a flue through Which .passes the spent nir from said generator; means for introducing the mix thereinto; and mechanism controlled by the flow of the mix for gener- 5 ating a draft in said flue.

9. A vinegar-making apparatus of the Schutzenbach type including a Vinegar generator; a conduit for the fluid mixture capable of acetic fermentation; means for pre- 10 'cooling said mixture flowing through said conduit; and means for automatically ,conf-- trolling lthe temperature of said mixture.

Signed at Peekskill,y N. Y., this seventhl day of January, 1916, in the presence of 'the OWEN MORAN, A. C. KNIGHT.' 

